FB: Even expanding Medicaid this late would only help NC!

Good news, surprising only to these doomsayers. The bigger boon to NC would be expanding Medicaid. The BILLIONS of DOLLARS in FEDERAL MONEY would provide health care for working people (many single moms), freeing up money for their local communities. The FEDERAL MONEY would also provide jobs in the medical field to cover these new people – estimated were 18,000-25,000 new jobs. The FEDERAL MONEY would also help hospitals and clinics, all across NC, most notably in rural communities. Expanding Medicaid is a win/win/win on health coverage, money for businesses and hospitals, and providing new jobs.

Meanwhile, not expanding Medicaid means we lose out on all these wins. Not only will fewer people have access to health insurance, but tax dollars from North Carolina will benefit Medicaid plans in other states, making North Carolina “a donor state.”

Since 1/1/14, “North Carolina has rejected $4.9 million per day that would provide coverage to 500,058 uninsured people,” according to NC Justice Center, $1.79 BILLION a year. Medicaid expansion would pay for itself while benefiting NC in concrete ways.